Some of our great partners
Working with Highline was a game changer for us. This was completely new territory, processes, measurement, mindset, and your team accelerated our journey by years. The businesses that came out of the accelerator are thriving today, and we have seen amazing successes. Thank you for such a fruitful partnership.
Pedro Earp
Former Chief Disruptive Growth Officer & Head of ZX Ventures
By embracing Highline Beta’s co-creation model, we can blend our own intrapreneurs who have a deep understanding of consumer and industry challenges to accelerate our innovation and growth.
Mike Dobbins
Group Head, RBCV & Corporate Development
We partnered with Highline Beta to expand our focus on H3 innovation and continue becoming a more ambidextrous organization. They were quick to gain a comprehensive understanding of our business and collaborated closely with us to identify meaningful opportunities for growth and new business models to employ.
Renee Riethmiller
Oral Care New Ventures Lead Colgate Palmolive
Pedro
Mike
Renee
Highline Beta partners with leading companies, family offices and industry experts to build vertical venture studios, combining rigorous methodology, domain expertise and collaboration to launch better ventures.
Building & funding DentalTech startups to improve access to care and dental clinic innovation.
Building & funding Ethereum startups focused on B2B use cases blending TradFi & Web3 ecosystems.
Highline Beta partners with leading companies, family offices and industry experts to build vertical venture studios, combining rigorous methodology, domain expertise and collaboration to launch better ventures.
An internal venture studio is wholly owned by a corporate partner and typically does not spin-out new startups. An external venture studio is an independent entity, supported by Highline Beta and a corporate partner to create and fund new startups. There are pros and cons to each; we help you figure out the right approach.
Flexibility is the key. You need the right corporate venture studio model to accomplish the goals you’ve set forth. We are as involved as you need, often serving as coaches and mentors to venture studio operators and the ventures / startups they’re building.
Build & launch new ventures, either internally or externally. If startups are spinning out of your corporate venture studio, we’ll co-invest alongside you.
Find answers to the most common questions about corporate venture studios, how they work, and what it looks like to launch one with Highline Beta.
More FAQs
What is a corporate venture studio?
A corporate venture studio is a dedicated organization that partners with large companies to systematically build and launch new ventures. Unlike accelerators or incubators that support existing startups, a venture studio creates companies from scratch — from identifying problems and validating solutions to assembling teams and launching products. Highline Beta operates a corporate venture studio that has helped companies like RBC, Colgate-Palmolive, and AB InBev build new businesses aligned with their strategic goals.
How is a venture studio different from an accelerator or incubator?
Accelerators run time-limited programs (typically 3-6 months) that mentor existing startups. Incubators provide workspace and basic resources. A venture studio acts as a co-founder — it generates ideas, builds products, assembles teams, and co-invests capital. Highline Beta embeds its builders directly into the venture until it secures product-market fit, which is a much deeper and longer engagement than an accelerator program.
What is the difference between an internal and external venture studio?
An internal venture studio is built and operated entirely within a corporation — the company owns the studio, hires the team, and owns the ventures. An external venture studio is operated by an independent firm like Highline Beta that partners with the corporation. External studios are typically faster to launch, bring entrepreneurial talent and methodology that's hard to build internally, and avoid cultural challenges that slow down corporate innovation.
How long does it take to design and launch a venture studio?
Designing a corporate venture studio typically takes 2-4 months, including defining the thesis, governance model, team structure, and investment approach. Launching the first ventures within the studio adds another 3-6 months. Most Highline Beta engagements produce venture concepts within the first 90 days and launched ventures within 12 months.
What does it cost to build a corporate venture studio?
Costs depend on the model. An external partnership with Highline Beta involves a management fee for the studio's operational work plus a co-investment commitment for venture capital. Building an internal studio typically requires a dedicated team of 5-15 people and an annual operating budget starting at $2-5 million, before any venture investment. Highline Beta works with companies to determine which model fits their goals and budget.
What is a vertical venture studio?
A vertical venture studio focuses on building ventures within a specific industry or market segment. Highline Beta operates vertical studios in DentalTech and Ethereum-based finance (ETH Finance), allowing deep specialization and concentrated expertise. This contrasts with horizontal studios that build across multiple industries without a specific thesis.
Looking to build a corporate venture studio? Trying to understand all the variables and components that go into launching new ventures in a repeatable way? Get in touch.
